So far the hang out was not going great. Gavin had only grunted responses to her questions and barely attempted to make conversation. They were supposed to go to a restaurant first and then a little boat ride to watch the fireworks at night but they had just started their late lunch and Gavin was paying more attention to his phone than her.When they got to the restaurant he glanced at her for a moment and then excused himself to the restroom. Elena was annoyed by this, that was the most uncomfortable car ride she had been on but Gavin seemed unbothered; she at least expected him to say something apart from "I'm going to the bathroom, you can order without me or whatever." Before walking away.When he came back she had not ordered. He looked surprised at first before waving the waiter down to take their orders. After that it was just awkward silence and Gavin pressing his phone with a frustrated look on his face, and once in a while excusing himself to take a phone call. Elena did not
"Where are you going? Are you leaving? I said I was sorry—""This is not about you or us. Gavin, it's fine but I need to leave now.""Did something happen? Is it Emily?" Elena had to petty urge to snap "So now you know her name." But she kept quiet instead and shook her head, the responsible option.She racked her head for excuses, she could not exactly say "My boyfriend needs me," Thinking of the word 'need' made her blush uncontrollably not to talk of saying it."A friend needs my help," was her excuse, technically Marcus was a friend."Right now? The fireworks just started." Gavin said pointing at the colourful show going above them. "I know, but I have to leave now."The fireworks had already begun, a burst of colours in the dark sky, the perfect place to be with a loved one but it was hard to concentrate with the drama and tension around them.Gavin took a step towards her, "I don't want to doubt you but I want you to know that I'm sorry about today and I want a chance to make thi
"I'm coming to your place," Elena wanted to clear things up. Isabel was obviously after Marcus, and Gavin was after her, she could do the right thing here and make peace with everyone by breaking up with Marcus. She did not want to sound materialistic or as a gold digger but her mind wandered to her bills and Emily's surgery. Marcus had kept on giving her more than enough, Her rent wouldn't be due in the next six months and she had paid off more than sixty per cent of her student loans, so the only thing on the ground was Emily's surgery and because they had shifted it, she had more than enough time to take care of it. She just had to start picking up more shifts, her boss would be surprised; but not as surprised as he was when she started dropping shifts."There's no need, I'm good." Marcus sounded terrible, he kept wincing after every sentence."You're still wincing,""No, I'm — ah, no I'm not.""Get off the phone and get some rest I'll be there in a few,""Don't bother, I—" She di
Excuse me?" Marcus asked."I'm just saying, you have someone like Isabel around at your beck and call, why waste time on me? I don't even know where I'm going with my life, I am a liability to you." Elena ranted."Have I ever said that?""No, but look at the circumstances we met. It just doesn't look like the perfect meet to tell our kids.""You want kids?" He asked, his eyes widening."Not the point but I — why do you look so terrified?" Elena backtracked, she had never seen Marcus like that before."I— I'm not terrified," he shifted a bit away from her. "Is it what I said about the kids thing? I didn't mean that, I mean I want kids but not with you— that didn't sound better, forget I said that— where are you going?" While she was ranting, Marcus had stood up from the bed and was slowly backing out of the room."I need to clear my head," was his reply."You're not too strong to be walking about, if you want I can leave.""Don't worry about it, I'll go. You stay," he said shuffling hi
"Isabel," Marcus said, his eyes narrowing at her as he got up from the bed and put on his shirt. He did this without sparing a glance at a flushed Elena. "Why are you here?""Sorry to interrupt your… activities," She did not look sorry, she looked seething."I thought we covered everything you needed me for for the day," "We did.""But?" "I'm going to go," Elena said standing up from the bed, her cheeks red from embarrassment, she had been adjusting her dress the entire time.Marcus wanted to tell her to stay, he looked like he wanted to drive Isabel out of the building that instant just for Elena to not leave but he knew Isabel, she was going to stay and she was going to make Elena's life miserable the entire time."Okay," he could tell that Elena did not like that answer, she looked hurt, used and possibly pathetic. She hurriedly picked up her things and brushed past Isabel who managed to slide in a "see you later," in the most venomous voice known to man.Marcus sighed as he wat
"I'm offended," Emily said after Elena had narrated her love life to her. From meeting Marcus, to him paying for almost everything, to Gavin and their moments, and then the kisses she shared with Marcus she kept everything PG."I know, I'm sorry." "You should be. You see me every week and these things have been happening but you didn't think to tell me." Her sister complained."It felt like a lot." Elena defended."I get it that you're always trying to protect me but at least you should have told me about the circumstances surrounding your relationship with Marcus.""I'm sorry," Elena repeated."You should be." "I know I should have told and I'm sorry, Em. But you can't hold this against me please, everything was messy at the time,""And it's not messy now?" Elena knew she had messed up but she did not expect her sister to hold it against her much. Emily was not even looking at her, she looked betrayed."Emily, I'm sorry. I'll keep saying it till you forgive me.""You're always ther
Elena had never been so nervous her entire life. She didn't even know what she was doing or what she was going to say. When she thought she was going to break up with Marcus she had planned out everything she wanted to say but with Gavin, she was a mumbled mess and she hadn't even talked to him yet. Speaking of one of those men and conversations she didn't know how to start, it had been three days since the incident and Marcus had busied every one of her calls. He always texted her with an excuse but she felt nervous and worried about the whole situation. Who knew what Isabel said to him?Thinking about Isabel gave her chills, specifically because she was scared of Isabel but also because Isabel seemed like someone who always got what she wanted, so how far was she willing to go to push Elena out of the picture? And it wasn't like she could talk to Marcus about her fears, mostly because he wasn't picking up her calls and also because she didn't know how to bring it up, "Hey, Marcus,
"Henry, hi. Am I in trouble?" Was the first thing Elena asked once she was ushered into the tiny office. Henry chuckled and made his way around her to his desk."No, not at all. Except there is something I should know?" He asked, teasing her."Uh, nope.""You look tense," he noted as he pushed some files around to create space on his rather messy desk. "Is something wrong?" He asked, tilting his head to the side."No, nothing is wrong. Uh, why did you call me in?""Oh yes, I was going through your work rate and it has dropped a lot. You're usually on top of this stuff and ahead of most of your colleagues. Is anything the problem?""No, everything is fine, Henry. I guess I'm just going through a lot of personal issues but I'm fine and I promise I'll sit up and take my work more seriously." She rambled."Elena, it's fine, just take it easy, okay? You're not in trouble. I just wanted to know what's wrong and if you need a couple of days to recuperate or get yourself together."Elena was